Comprehensive schools have come out top in the "value added" school league tables and schools in tough neighbourhoods have shown more improvement than the average.

Schools that face challenging circumstances improved by 2.8 percentage points compared with an average 1.3 per cent increase across the nation.

Overall, the percentage of students gaining five more grades A to C rose by 1.3 per cent to 52.9 per cent last year.

Out of 133 schools achieving excellent "value added" scores at both key stage three and key stage four, 97 were comprehensives.

There are now 114 schools where less than one in five students gain five GCSEs at grades A to C, compared with 361 in 1996.

- For more information see www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables